It's Liverpool-AC Milan

Today's 2nd leg match between AC Milan and Man U was a beauty, well, if you're a Milan fan. Kaka is the leading scorer in the Champions League this year and his domination of Manchester in the semi-finals (3 of Milan's 5 goals), make him the MVP of the League, no doubt about it. But Seedorf was the man of the match today, with an assist to Kaka and a beautiful goal soon after to really seal the deal. Manchester came in with a 3-2 lead but they played squishy early on and then got sucked into Milan's rope-a-dope defensive sag in the second half. Gilardino came off the bench to poke in the capper late in the game, it was a thrashing.

Liverpool finished off Chelsea on Tuesday in what was, unfortunately, a really dull match. Chelsea came in with the 1-0 advantage but Liverpool got that goal back early in the match on a sweet goal off a set play. As much as ESPN's commentators praised the ref, I thought he made a few calls early on that disincentivized forward play--now why do that in semi-final match? Chelsea didn't bring much offense and Liverpool was only sloppily superior. The aggregate was tied at 1 but Chelsea just couldn't muster penalty kicks on the road so Liverpool moves on.

AC Milan-Liverpool is a re-match of the 2005 Finals, one of those historic finals that you just had to see to believe--and considering how plastered I was, I'm surprised I saw anything at all. Milan scored within the first 2 minutes, added another goal soon after and chipped in a third just before halftime. It looked like it was over. Way, way over. But Liverpool, plucky little scamps they are, come all the way back, tie it up and take the Cup on penalty kicks. One of the greatest single games I've probably ever seen. I'll take Milan, I just think they're flat out better on offense and defense and Kaka is an unstoppable force (a Brazilian Chuck Norris). And they're eager to get a little payback on 2005's unbelievable collapse.

(Parenthetically: Chelsea and Man U are still on for the FA Cup Final and are still dueling for the top of the table in the Premiership. But their hopes of a 'treble' both fell short in the semis of the Champions League. I'm thinking Man U takes the FA and Chelsea takes the Premiership, just a feeling.)